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Gold Coast United all but secured a top four spot in the A-League with a 2-1 win over the Glory in Perth on Sunday night.
New Zealand international Shane Smeltz scored from the penalty spot either side of half time in front of 6,617 fans.
Adam Taggart got one back for the Glory with 15 minutes left but Gold Coast held on to claim just their third win from their past 10 games and extend Perth’s horror streak to just two wins from 24.
United will need to take just one point from their last two games to guarantee a place in the top four; they can host a semi-final should they close the five-point gap to second-placed Central Coast.
Victory was soured when winger Golgol Mebrahtu was forced off after he picked up a knock in the first half, adding to an injury list that already included Jason Culina, Bruce Djite, Bas Van Den Brink and Joel Porter.
There was no fairytale ending for retiring Perth stalwart Jamie Harnwell after he stuck out a leg to bring down Mebrahtu through on goal in the 33rd minute and Smeltz converted the penalty.
Harnwell nearly gave away another penalty just after the restart when he brought down Michael Thwaite in the box, but referee Jared Gillet waved away Gold Coast appeals.
Taggart nearly levelled soon after when he found space inside six yards, but the young forwards shot hit the side netting.
United made him pay when Perth defender Josh Mitchell brought down substitute Adama Traore in the box in the 55th minute and Smeltz, who recently returned to the club after a spell in Turkey, again scored from the spot.
Harnwell then went some way towards making amends for his earlier mistake when he headed down to Taggart and the striker slotted home to give the Glory some hope in the final few minutes.
After the hosts had two penalty shouts turned down, Gold Coast regained control of the game and held on for a vital win.
Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg said he was happy with the way his side performed for most of the match.
“Up to the goal that Perth scored, Gold Coast were the better side, better organised and in control,” he said.
“It would have been unfair for us to control two-thirds of the game and only come away with a draw.”
Retiring Perth defender Harnwell said he was sad to end his career on a sour note.
“We weren’t good enough. We weren’t keeping the ball or doing anything and that has summed up our season,” he said.
“I’ve had plenty of good luck and unfortunately today wasn’t a good luck day.”
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